The Hallelujah Girls cast and their characters: Judi Blankenship (Carlene Travis), Carrie Mataraza (Sugar Lee Thompkins), Steffen Jacobson (Bobby Dwayne Dillahunt), Judy Layne (Mavis Flowers), Barbara Faler (Crystal Hart), Pam Engel (Nita Mooney), Neal Weckworth (Porter Padgett) and Laurie Farquhar (Bunny Sutherland).
Lance Motta-Vilensky
Do you believe in miracles? And what is a miracle anyway? Some people believe a miracle is an event beyond the forces of nature and the powers of man, an event that can only be ascribed to a supernatural force, a divine force. Others might take the pragmatic view that a miracle is simply an amazing achievement resulting from hard work. Under one or both of these definitions, some might say that the PebbleCreek Players Community Theater’s (PC Players) presentation of The Hallelujah Girls at our Renaissance Theatre on the evenings of March 11, 12, 13 and 14 is a miracle.
It started back in April of 2014. You might have been occupied with filing your income taxes, or perhaps you were enjoying family visitors during spring break. It was then that PC Players members were searching for a special play to present to you during their 2015 season. Their play selection committee selected The Hallelujah Girls and determined that Lee Vilensky, who submitted the play for consideration, would be its director.
During the summer of last year, you might have been in cooler climes enjoying the cool mountain air of Arizona’s high country or perhaps you were cruising off the coast of Alaska. It was during that sizzling summer that Director Lee Vilensky began putting together the 35 member Hallelujah Girls team: the Executive and Stage Crews and the Technical, Creative and Support Teams.
With the arrival of autumn you might have pulled out your calendars to mark tee times or to make plans for the holiday season. Some of your neighbors were marking theirs with the audition dates for roles in The Hallelujah Girls and, on October 31, while you were probably out trick or treating, the cast selections were being made.
With the arrival of 2015 you’ve probably been moving to the easy rhythm of winter in the Valley of the Sun. PC Players members have been learning lines, rehearsing, designing and constructing sets, gathering props, rehearsing, creating costumes, devising flyers and programs, rehearsing, making musical selections, designing tickets, photographing and publicizing and did I mention—rehearsing?
The Hallelujah Girls, the setting of which is an abandoned church, is a compelling comedy written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten. It is a poignant and playful story about six women and two men traversing the rocky road of life; a story about loss and renewal, betrayal and forgiveness, missed opportunities and endless possibilities.
The cast and characters are: Judi Blankenship as Carlene Travis who represents the multi-married; Carrie Mataraza as Sugar Lee Thompkins facing the future with courage and determination; Steffen Jacobsen as Bobby Dwayne Dillahunt reveals that a man can have brawn and be emotionally sensitive; Judy Layne as Mavis Flowers thinks even one marriage might be too much; Barbara Faler as Crystal Hart confirms there are drums out there that only one person can hear; Pam Engel as Nita Mooney sometimes confuses fiction for reality; Neal Weckworth as Porter Padgett proves the stereotypical mama’s boy does exist and Laurie Farquhar as Bunny Sutherland, raises egocentrism to new heights.
So, do you believe in miracles? And what is a miracle anyway? Consider this: 11 months in the making, 35 people and endless hours of work for four performance nights. The PebbleCreek Players Community Theater presentation of The Hallelujah Girls at our Renaissance Theatre plays the evenings of March 11, 12, 13 and 14. Some might say it’s a miracle!
Oh no! Don’t tell me that you don’t have a ticket to see The Hallelujah Girls! Please see the egroup for information concerning tickets at this late date and pray for a miracle.